Thailand's protesters congregated in their thousands at an upmarket Bangkok shopping district today, preparing a "final battleground" in their campaign to oust army-backed Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
About 20,000 "red shirt" protesters had gathered in the commercial heart of the city by early evening as the prospect of further impasse looked set to clip growth in Southeast Asia's second-largest economy after clashes on Saturday killed 23 in Thailand's bloodiest political violence since 1992.
"We will use the Rachaprasong area as the final battleground to oust the government," protest leader Nattawut Saikua told reporters today, referring to the hotel and shopping district a couple of blocks from Bangkok's financial area. "There will be no more negotiations."
The protesters, who have vowed "final" days of reckoning before, want Mr Abhisit to quit office and dissolve parliament ahead of new elections. They were fast leaving a protest site close to Saturday's clashes to consolidate at Rachaprasong, which they have occupied for the past 10 days.
Red shirts and their vehicles spilled over a few blocks around the intersection. Some were setting up tents at another junction next to the business district on Silom Road. Some were carrying pictures of the country's revered monarch and waving Thai and royal flags.
However, Bangkok was peaceful yesterday during the second day of the three-day Thai New Year called Songkran, after protesters called off a planned a march on an army base where Mr Abhisit has taken shelter.
Tens of thousands of revellers took to the streets of Bangkok on Tuesday night, dousing each other with water and flour in traditional celebrations. But tension could flare again when the holiday ends, and financial markets are likely to see renewed selling when they reopen today.
Mr Abhisit, who had been expected to ride out the storm, appears more vulnerable now after the surprise announcement this week of an investigation into possible corrupt funding of his party and comments from the army chief that only polls could end a crisis that has gripped Thailand since 2006.
Mr Abhisit has said he could call elections by the end of the year, although his hand could be forced by a recommendation this week from the Election Commission that his Democrat Party should face charges of illegal funding.
If a court upholds the charges, Mr Abhisit, who came to power in 2008 when the army brokered a deal in parliament, could be banned from holding office and Thailand's oldest political party could be dissolved. Any prosecution could take months, however.
Reuters